Do any of you feel that using an incline on the treadmill is beneficial? And for any of you choosing this exercise for your diabetes, has the doctor mentioned that using the incline would be better than keeping it flat?

I'd be interested in hearing this as well - I have a cheap treadmill with the incline and it just hurts my bad leg too much to work out on it that much - it's just the incline that makes it bad!

I bought my treadmill second hand. It was in excellent shape *except* for the fact that the incline thingie didn't work. It never really bothered me because I like flat walking but I have a feeling that the inclines would be more beneficial in a workout... I may be wrong, though, I hope I am.

Yes, adding significant incline to your work-out practically doubles your calorie usage. I tested this many times at the gym. I would be walking fast - uphill - next to a spry youngster who was running without incline. Often - our calories burned was the same!

that's interesting... wonder if they ever put that in the sales brochures?

That is indeed very interesting news! I guess I should have the thing fixed then... I knew it would make *some* difference with the incline working, but this amount seems more than a little bit. Thanks for the tip. Uh... how would I find a treadmill repairperson? Maybe just a general "handy" type of person, I assume.

I certainly thing I had my best fitness when living in Wellington city--the whole centre of town is built on a steep slope. I was on a house half way up a foot path (no raod at all) with about 300 steps up to the univerity and about 300 steps down to the shops. It was a pain in the tush, literally, but I had great legs

Yikes, you're talking some serious exercise there, rattitude! I'm sure I would have *counted* each one of those steps every day, too!

An incline angle on a treadmill will burn more calories and it will help increase endurance and conditioning

Any type of exercise is good for controlling blood surgar level, and a treadmill is a wonderful way to get that exercise. But when using the incline, as with any exercise that causes a great deal of exertion, you have to be mindful of your blood sugar level. It can cause a quick drop in the blood sugar level if you are on insulin. Just take care, but do that exercise. Exercise is so important in controlling your blood sugar levels. If you can't get to the gym or have a treadmill of your own, just get out and walk. But remember to always have something within with sugar in it in case you begin to have an insulin reaction.